Outlet valve for tank cars



Nov. 6, 1923. I 1,473,474

W. A. DRAKE OUTLET VALVE FOR TANK CARS Filed Jan. 7, 1920 2 Sheets- Sheet 1 Nov. 6, 1923. HAHAM w. A. DRAKE OUTLET VALVE FOR TANK CARS Filed Jan. '7, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 6, 1923.

UNITED STATES WHITILESEY ADAMS DRAKE, OF PETROLEUM, OHIO, ASSIGNOE TO THE YENNSYL- VANIA TANK CAR COMPANY, OF SHARON, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

' OUTLET VALVE m. TANK cans.

Application filed January 7, 1920. Serial No. 349,954.

To all whom it ma concern:

Be it known t at I, WHI'I'I'LESEY A. DRAKE, a citizen. of the United States, residing at Petroleum, in the county of Trumbull and State of Ohio, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Outlet Valves for Tank Cars, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to improvements in outlet valves for tank cars, and it pertains to certain improvements in the valves that are placed at the bottom of the tank and operated from within a dome projecting from 1 the top of the tank.

One object of my present. invention is to so construct the arts that the valve can be easily removed or the purpose of reg-rinding or replacement by a new valve, should 1 the valve seat become worn or damaged, without the necessity of putting the car out of service as is frequently the case under similar conditions with the present winged type of valve.

Another object of my present invention is to so locate the spring which holds the valve on its seat, that it is not affected by the vibration of the tank while in transit.

A further object of my invention is to provide means located at the upper part of the valve case for regulatin the tension of the spring against the va ve through its stem.

Another object of my present invention is to encase the valve rod throughout its length within the tank by a pipe-jacket, which extends from the spring adjusting bushing to the rod bracket at its upper end, whereby the valve-rod is protected against surging of the contents of the tank, and whereby the protecting pipe-jacket also acts as a spreader between the valve casing and the valverod bracket.

Another object of my present invention is to provide the lower part of the valve casing with a suitable surrounding skirt which overhan the outlet ports to overcome the eddy 'action of liquidswhen passing through the outlet ports during the process of unloading.

A further ob'ect is to so construct my improved valve t at it can be applied to the present standard four or six inch outlet-leg by counter-boring and threading the upper end of the leg to which the improved valve casing is applied.

In the accompanying drawings- 1 Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of my improved valve, showing a part of the tank to which it is applied.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of a part of the upper portion of the tank with its dome, and showing the upper portion of my improved construction.

My improved valve construction is particularly adapted to be used in connection with tanks or transporting oils, such as kerosene, asoline, etc.

In the rawings, 1 indicates the tank and 2 the dome projecting from thetop thereof, both of which are of the usual construction. Projecting. from the bottom of the tank is the valve-leg 2, and this projects the regulated distance below the tank bottom. It is fastened to the tank in any desired manner, but as here shown, it is secured by a suitable number of rivets 3.

In carrying out my improvement, I provide a valve casing A, which comprises a lower section 4 and an upper section 5. The lower end of the section 4 has a reduced external screw-threaded projecting flange end 5', which meshes with an internally screwthreaded opening or recess 6 formed in the leg 2. This screw-threaded connection is locked against becoming unscrewed by a suitable locking bolt or screw 7, which passes through the flange 5' and engages the wall of the screw-threaded recess. Above the flange 5' the section 4 is enlarged, as shown at 8, and this enlar ement pro ects into and above the bottom 0 the tank 1, and is provided with a suitable number of transversely arranged outlet ports 9. Below the outlet ports 9, the lower section 4 is provided with a conical-shaped valve seat 10, with which a conical shaped valve 11 seats to make a liquid-tight closure. This valve 11' is preferably hollow and has a strai ht vertical portion 12, above its tapered va ve portion which snugly fits against the straight vertical walled openin 13, and in which openin the valve is a apted to reciprocate vertica ly. The upper section 5 of the case and the upper end of the lower section 4 are provided with outwardly extending flanges I bushing 22 passes through a screw-threaded opening 23 in the upper end of the section 5,'and this bushing is provided with a suitable nut 24, by means of which it can be turned within the section 5, for the purpose of adjusting it up and down through the said section 5. Surrounding the lower end of the valve rod 16 is a suitable spring 25, and the lower end of this spring abuts against the nut 19, and its upper end against a washer 26 laced between it and the lower end of the ushing 22. By adjusting thebushing 22 downward, the tension of the spring 25 on the valve 11 may be regulated to cause a proper tight seating of the valve 11 with its seat 10, and the bushing is locked in its adjusted position by means of a locknut 27. I

For the purpose of preventing eddies which occur in the liquid as it flows through its outlet-ports, I provide the section 4 .of the valve casing with a depending bellshaped skirt 28, which overhangs the outlet-ports 9. The formation ofeddies interfere with the rapid outflow of the liquid and by means of this skirt an even and rapid outflow is obtained by preventing the formation of these disturbing eddies in the outflowing liquid.

For the purpose of protecting the valve rod 26 from the surging of the liquid within the tank, and also for the purpose of providing a spreader between the. upper end of the adjustable bushing 22 and the bracket 21, I surround the valve rod with a protecting jacket 29 in the form of a pipe. The upper end of this jacket 29 is below and supports the inner end of the bracket 21- and the lower part 30 of the jacket 29 is made in a separate section 30. The lower end of the part 29 of the jacket and the upper end of the part 30 are externally screwthreaded and are connected by a screw threaded nipple 31, by means of which the jacket may be elongated or shortened, for the purpose of properly adjusting its length between the bracket 21 and the upper endof the bushing 22. 1

The upper end of the valve rod 16, passes through the bracket 21 and extends therebeyond and isprovided with suitable nuts 32 and 33. An operating lever 34 has its inner end 35 surrounding the valve rod bevalve casing tween the nuts 32 and 33 and bracket 21.

regrinding the valve and its seat in a. me-

chanical manner, which cannot be done with the construction of the valve originally used. This removal and regrinding of the valve when necessary is readily and quickly accomplished, thus not requiring that the car be out, of service any appreciable length of time. Furthermore, the valve and its casing are readily and quickly removable, and a new one quickly substituted therefor and without throwing the car out of service any appreciable amount of time, which is not true with the form of valve now in use. 1

By placing the spring within the valve casing, I prevent it being afiected by the vibration of the car in transit, whereby a constant steady downward tension is caused on the valve, and whereby an undisturbed seating of the valve is accomplished whenthe car is in transit, thereby preventing any leakage of the liquid through the valve.

A protecting jacketfor the valve stem also prevents the surging contents of the tank from affecting the valve stem, which would have a tendency to vibrate the valve, .oonits seat and thereby cause leakage.

Again, my improved casing and its valve may be applied to the standard four-or six inch outlet leg by counterboring and threading the upper end of the leg, as here shown,

to receive the lower screw-threaded end 5' of the lower section of n 1y improved valve casing.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters is-- 1.. The combination with valve leg of a tank, of a valve casing connected with the valve leg, the casing having at its lower end an internal valve seat and laterally extending openings above the valve seat, a vertically movable valve within the casing, said casing having a surrounding skirt located immediately above the said openings and extending outwardly from the casing and larger in diameter than the casing to project beyond the said 0 nings for the ur se of preventing e dies in the liquid owing through the said openmgs.

2. The combination with a tank, of a 4 having-an outlet port and an internal va ve controlling the port, a valve rod passing through the casing, an.adjustable bushing surrounding the valve rod and a depending projecting into the case, an expanding spring between the valve and the inner end of the bushing, a bracket at the top of the tank through which the upper end of the valve rod passes, and an adjustable jacket surrounding the valve rod with its lower end engaging the upper end of the adjustable bushing and its upper end engaging the bracket, the parts arranged for the purpose described.

3.-The combination with a tank having a dome at its top, of an outlet valve casmg at its bottom, a vertically gnovable valve an a spring depressing it located in said casing, a bracket extending from the wall of the dome, a rod attached to the valve extending through the casing and to said bracket, a jacket surrounding the rod located between the bracket and the casing, and means engaging the bracket for lifting the valve, whereby the rodjacket supports the end of the bracket under the lifting strain.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

. WHIITLESEY ADAMS DRAKE. 

